Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus); these two, together with Purple-crowned Fairy-wren (Malurus coronatus), constitute the "Australian blue group". Subspecies originally treated as constituting three separate species, but interbreed wherever they meet. Birds from central Australia long referred to as subspecies callainus, but type specimen for that name is apparently an intergrade, and therefore taxonomically unidentifiable; name replaced by musgravi. As many as seven subspecies described from early collections, but later studies have shown that most represent clinal variation, e.g. whitei (described from interior New South Wales) is regarded as representing part of clinal variation of melanotus, and aridus (interior of Western Australia) is now included within nominate.

The following 4 subspecies are recognised:

splendens (Quoy and Gaimard, 1830)

- South-western WA north to southern Pilbara and east to the western fringe of the Great Victoria and Gibson Deserts.

melanotus Gould, 1841

- Central and western Murray - Darling Basin, north to Copper Basin Watershed, Gowan Ranges and around Bollon, Qld.

musgravi Mathews, 1922

- Central Australia north to Tanami - Tennant Creek, NT, west to the eastern fringe of the Great Sandy, Gibson and Great Victoria Deserts, WA, south to northern Eyre Peninsula, SA and east to the western fringe of the Flinders Ranges, Lower Lake Eyre Basin and Simpson Desert. Synonmous with callainus?.

If you would like to read any articles about the Splendid Fairy-wren... Show Articles (0)

Pictures of Splendid Fairy-wren

If Birdpedia has no pictures of Splendid Fairy-wren or you would like to see more, then try the following... External Images (20)

Where can I observe this species?

Select an area (or leave blank) to see locations where this species has been recorded.

Area

All

Optional: Complete the following if you wish to restrict the reserve to within a given distance of a location.

Please enter the Latitude and Longitiude of a given location together with the maximum distance (km) to display a list of reserves within that distance.
You must enter a Latitude, a Longitude and a distance greater than 0.

Select an area (or leave blank), and a date range, to see field trips on which this species has been recorded.

Area

All

From

To

Optional: Complete the following if you wish to restrict the reserve to within a given distance of a location.

Please enter the Latitude and Longitiude of a given location together with the maximum distance (km) to display a list of reserves within that distance.
You must enter a Latitude, a Longitude and a distance greater than 0.